Syrian - Israeli peace

The London-based al-Quds al-Arabi daily said on Friday that Western sources close to Washington expected the resumption of talks between Syria and Israel under the auspices of the US in Washington with the start of autumn.

The paper said these talks will be similar to those held previously between the Palestinians and Israelis at the Wye Plantation, which resulted in the Wye River memorandum of understanding.

The paper added that the Syrian officials always assert that it had reached in the talks with the previous government of Benjamin Netanyahu an agreement that covered 8% of the main issues pertaining to Israel withdrawal from the Golan against establishing normal and diplomatic relations between the two sides and Syrian security arrangements.

The paper indicated that talks between Syria and Israel will be among the main issues for debate between US President Bill Clinton and new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.